New photos from Jeffery Epstein’s estate released by House Democrats
Washington: Democrats in the US Congress have released a select group of photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion, featuring high-profile figures including presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, businessmen Bill Gates and Richard Branson, filmmaker Woody Allen and Trump strategist Steve Bannon.
Some of the photos depicted sex toys and assistive devices, while one featured a “Trump condom” with his face on it and the words “I’m BIG!” It included the slogan. It was allegedly selling for $4.50.
The 19 photos selectively released by Democrats were compiled from 95,000 new photos obtained by the House Oversight Committee as part of a subpoena from the deceased sex offender’s estate. The photographs do not depict any criminal activity or wrongdoing.
Democrats are slowly releasing small troves of documents, including images of Epstein’s private Caribbean island of Little Saint James, focusing on the financier’s relationship with Trump and other high-profile associates.
Meanwhile, time is running out toward a deadline for the Justice Department to release tens of thousands of documents, known as the “Epstein files,” related to its investigation into Epstein’s sex trafficking allegations.
Under a bill signed by Trump last month, the government is required by Dec. 19 to provide “all non-classified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the Department of Justice’s possession relating to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.”
The department is allowed to withhold certain information “such as personal information of victims and material that would compromise an active federal investigation.”
The photos released by Democrats on Saturday (AEDT) have no dates or captions. One of them showed a much younger Trump at an event surrounded by six women, their faces blacked out by the committee.
Others showed Epstein and Woody Allen on a movie set and sitting at a large office desk with Bannon. Another photo showed Epstein in an outdoor setting with British billionaire Richard Branson, who also owns the Caribbean islands.
One of the photos shows a much younger Bill Clinton, who was president from 1993 to 2001, posing with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s girlfriend and associate. Clinton appeared to have signed the photo. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of trafficking girls for sex along with Epstein, who died in prison while awaiting trial.
Another photo shows Bannon and Allen standing and talking at an unspecified location, while another shows Epstein and Bannon taking a phone selfie together while standing in front of a mirror.
In another photo from an unknown place and time, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is seen with the United Kingdom’s former Prince Andrew. As is now known, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles due to his dealings with Epstein.
Congressman Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, said the “disturbing” photos raise more important questions about Epstein’s relationships with some of the world’s most powerful men.
“We will not rest until the American people know the truth. The Department of Justice must release all files IMMEDIATELY,” Garcia said, calling for an end to what he called “the White House cover-up.”
The Trump administration denies covering up Epstein’s crimes or dealings. He notes that he released additional files on the Epstein investigation earlier this year and questions why Democrats didn’t release the Epstein documents themselves while Joe Biden was in the Oval Office.
In recent weeks, multiple judges have ruled that secret grand jury transcripts related to the investigations into Epstein and Maxwell could be unsealed under a bill mandating the release of the Epstein files.
He said Trump and Epstein were friends in the 1990s but had a falling out in the 2000s. Other high-profile figures, including Clinton, Gates and economics professor Larry Summers, have said they regret their past dealings with Epstein.
Epstein was convicted of child sex crimes in Florida in 2008 and sentenced to prison under an agreement in which he pleaded guilty.
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Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political correspondent in Canberra.Connect with: excitement or email.
